The expression level of serum Golgi protein-73 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical value in making early diagnosis

Objective: To investigate the expression level of serum Golgi protein-73 (GP73) in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or accompanied with Budd- Chiari syndrome (BCS), and to discuss its clinical value in making early diagnosis. Methods: The peripheral serum samples were collected in 490 individuals, including patients with HCC (n = 65), cholangiocarcinoma (CC, n = 35), Budd-Chiari syndrome accompanied with HCC (n = 40), type B virus hepatitis (n = 60), cirrhosis after B hepatitis (n = 60), Budd-Chiari syndrome complicated by cirrhosis (n = 60), other malignant lesions (n = 50), benign hepatic lesions (n = 60) and healthy volunteers (n = 60). The expression levels of serum GP73 and AFP were determined by using Elisa and electrochemiluminescence methods separately. Results: The expression level of serum GP73 in the patients with HCC, CC or BCS plus HCC were significantly higher than that in the other individuals (P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), the sensitivity, the specificity and the diagnostic accuracy of GP73 and AFP for HCC were 0.868, 90.8%, 75.5%, 77.6% and 0.739, 60%, 83.2%, 80.2% respectively. The cut-off values of GP73 and AFP were 43.40 ng/ml and 20 ng/ml respectively. The area under ROC and the sensitivity of GP73 for the diagnosis of HCC were strikingly higher than those of AFP (P < 0.05), while no significant differences in the specificity and diagnostic accuracy existed between GP73 and AFP (P > 0.05). The area under ROC, sensitivity, specificity and the accuracy of GP73 for the diagnosis of CC were 0.774, 88.6%, 72.7% and 73.9% respectively, and the optimal cut-off value was 45.40 ng/ml. Conclusion: In diagnosing HCC,the expression level of serum GP73 is superior to AFP. It is hopeful that serum GP73 may be proved to be an early serum tumor marker for HCC. (authors)